With school out, and since we knew that we would be stationed in Grenada for the summer, we actively sought appropriate summer camp activities to keep the boys educationally engaged while socializing with their peers. Fortunately for us, Grenada Yacht Club, just across the lagoon from our marina, offered a summer sailing camp. Allan Sherman’s “Camp Granada” immediately began running through my head as I completed the necessary paperwork to enroll the boys in camp, in Grenada! (“Hello muddah, hello faddah, here I am at, camp Granada …”)

The boys were excited to begin camp, and even more excited when they realized that they would be transported to camp via the “dinghy bus.”

On the first day of camp, the boys returned home somewhat disheartened that they had not been able to go out sailing. They groused that it had been raining all day and that instead of sailing, they spent their time learning about (of all things) boat parts, sea conditions, wind, weather and knots. (Once again, Allan Sherman’s “Camp Grenada!” “… And they say we’ll have some fun if it stops raining!”) While the boys have spent significant time on the water, no doubt, the camp counselors were appropriately taking the temperature of their summer sailing camp pupils.

The next day, the weather cleared and the eager students were able to get out on the water to test their sailing skills, both solo and in larger boats working together as a crew. As the children’s time at camp, and their abilities, progressed, they even had sailing races. (Click any photo below for a slide show.)

(Click below for videos.)

(Check out the videos tab at the top of the page for additional videos of the boys sailing!).

The camp has also offered a series of lectures: from marine biologists, on marine environment and pollution; nurses, on first aid at sea; and retired coast guard, on marine safety and sea protocols.

It turns out “Camp Grenada” is not so bad after all!

Click below link for “Camp Granada” by Allan Sherman (music with lyrics):

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Hello muddah, hello faddah
Here I am at camp Granada
Camp is very entertaining
And they say we’ll have some fun if it stops raining

I went hiking with Joe Spivey
He developed poison ivy
You remember Leonard Skinner
He got ptomaine poisoning last night after dinner

All the counselors hate the waiters
And the lake has alligators
And the head coach wants no sissies
So he reads to us from something called Ulysses

Now I don’t want this should scare ya
But my bunkmate has malaria
You remember Jeffery Hardy
They’re about to organize a searching party

Take me home, oh muddah, faddah
Take me home, I hate Grenada
Don’t leave me out
In the forest where I might get eaten by a bear

Take me home, I promise I will
Not make noise, or mess the house with other boys
Oh please don’t make me stay
I’ve been here one whole day

Dearest fadduh, darling muddah
How’s my precious little bruddah
Let me come home if you miss me
I would even let Aunt Bertha hug and kiss me

Wait a minute, it’s stopped hailing
Guys are swimming, guys are sailing
Playing baseball, gee that’s bettah
Muddah, faddah kindly disregard this letter!